Xbox 360 warranty extended to three years

In a monumental move for Xbox 360 owners everywhere, Microsoft has expanded its warranty coverage to three years, and will take a $1.05 billion to $1.15 billion charge to earnings for anticipated repair costs on the malfunctioning consoles. The company had previously extended the 90 day warranty to one year, but this move comes with a clear acknowledgment of the persistent problems with many of its systems (specifically the red ring of death), and an offer to reimburse users who have already paid for repairs to their consoles. It would appear that this development signals Remond's concession that these problems are not "routine" (a stance it has been lacking as of late), and happily demonstrates that they will do more than just add a few heatsinks to the troubled console. With the recent news that the Xbox 360 has a reported 33 percent failure rate, this should be welcome relief for literally scores of gamers.

Update - read the official statement from Microsoft here, and listen to this interview with Peter Moore on the decision.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Robert @ Jul 5th 2007 6:22PM]

Ice Cold (You) = Annoying

[spam_from_engadget @ Jul 5th 2007 6:42PM]

I guess most posters (above) are American.

Here in Europe, the minimum warranty that can be offered on most consumer products is two years. The argument is that a product that it expected to last less than two years is defective-by-design.

Even in the "corporation-friendly" US, I'm surprised that they got away with offering only 90 days. Isn't there any sort of legal minimum?

[Ice Cold @ Jul 5th 2007 6:55PM]

This just in Sales of EB Games Warranty and Best Buy warranties on the 360 decline sharply


Employees at Gamestop EB Games and Best Buy caught on Tape lying to customers about Microsoft's 360 Warranty

[Bogdan June @ Jul 5th 2007 6:56PM]

Yea, You don't see PS3 doing this/////

[Jayson Nayagam @ Jul 5th 2007 7:45PM]

you also don't see the ps3's failing at this rate. i have a ps3 and a 360, so don't call me fanboy. i'm on my 2nd 360, so apparently i'm lucky compared to others. if it fails again, i'm done with the 360

[Bogdan June @ Jul 5th 2007 9:15PM]

to Jayson, yea i also have both of them. My 360 failed once. I'm out of warranty, which apparently isnt "covered" in the 50 years of microsoft warranty.

[rockrigo @ Jul 5th 2007 7:13PM]

you are a fucking idiot if you think MS isnt gonna fix production of these and just wait til customers send them in, from what ive seen all that needs to be done is expand the heatsink or use better thermal paste

its awesome they are extending it to 3 years tho, they are trying to correct their mistakes which is fine by me

id rather not have an xbox 360 to play my games for a week or 2 then be completely fucked

[tyler @ Jul 5th 2007 7:17PM]

I just wish Sony and Nintendo would fix my malfunctioning PS3 and Wii.

Oh thats right, they work just fine.

[Alex @ Jul 5th 2007 7:27PM]

Hard for the PS3 to break when there aren't any games for it.

And the Wii....ummm didn't they already go a major hardware revision? cough *strap* cough

[tyler @ Jul 5th 2007 7:42PM]

Aw, did the red ring of death hit you too?

I guess MotorStorm, Resistance, or Tony Hawk (to name a couple) don't count. I would say Rainbow Six but I'll save you the time of saying "Ohh yeah my xblox had that a long time ago"

As for the strap, fortunately I wasn't dumb enough to let my controller go flying across the room. It's called holding on.

Have fun getting your console fixed and your money back from Microshaft.

[h0mi @ Jul 5th 2007 7:23PM]

Good news, but their return process still sucks. 1 month without my 360 ends tomorrow but it's a pain in the rear to ship a box, ship it back, etc. etc. ... it took 2 weeks just to ship the xbox to them (1 week to get the "coffin" and 1 week to ship it back).

[Technology Research @ Jul 5th 2007 7:26PM]

at least you get a free box's I have gone through many dollars to buy box's from the post office to ship back all my dead xbox's, now onto number 3 xbox!

[gascar888 @ Jul 5th 2007 7:33PM]

I doubt that best buy will refund my $40 for my extended warranty but I'm gonna try anyway. Or maybe since its a 2 year extension, it will go to 5 years. Interesting either way.

[dmitry kalika @ Jul 5th 2007 7:39PM]

woo finally..
oh btw check out this video..

http://my.break.com/media/view.aspx?ContentID=326184

[Tebok 10000 @ Jul 5th 2007 7:46PM]

I was really excited to hear the news about this. This is a huge gesture by MS to it's loyal customers worldwide. Unfortunately it's still not enough. Even if it costs them a billion dollars.

I got the other common issue of the video disappearing and just had sound back in Feb/Mar while I was beta testing Shadowrun. The colors got disorted and I tried reseting the system. When I rebooted I noticed I had lost all video. I forked up the $140 for repairs since I was out of warranty and two day fedexed it becasue MS stopped giving out boxes at that point. Plus I wanted to speed up the process. All they did was send me a replacement (probably refurbised) console and ship it back snail mail. The one they sent me has a glich where the lights keep flickering back and forth between the 1st and 2nd lights when it's trying to ientify the controllers when it's in the vertical posistion It seems to go away when laid horizontal. I never complained about it til now becasue I was just happy to have a working system again.

With this announcement today I decided to call Xbox to see if my problem was covered under this new warranty and to find out if I would be reimbursed for my repairs I had done earlier this year. Unfortunately I found out that just becasue I didn't get the f'ing red lights of death I get shafted and get nothing.

That's total BS MS and uncool. Way to half ass it. It makes sense why Peter kept say the 3 red rings.

When are people with my problem going to get our due.

Congrats to all the lucky red light winners winners.

[Joe S. @ Jul 5th 2007 8:09PM]

The Xbox has a 33% failure rate...MS trys to make hardware, what a joke.


http://www.dailytech.com/Retailers+Estimate+Xbox+360+Failure+Rate+High+as+33+Percent/article7892.htm

[Bilal @ Jul 5th 2007 8:26PM]

Does this apply to all Xbox 360s? Or is there a specific date of purchase and all that?

[Pastry Chef @ Jul 5th 2007 8:53PM]

What about the people who had their 360s fail and consequently trashed the defective consoles? How will they get compensated? I feel that a recall should be made to teach MS that they should test their products properly before releasing it to the public.

[FrankTheCrank @ Jul 5th 2007 9:00PM]

Looks like the XBOX Division won't be turning a profit next year as they had hoped.

And now the XBOX project as a whole is 6 BILLION dollars in the hole....not one penny of profit till maybe 2009.

FAHKING BRUTAL!!!

[bob cobb @ Jul 5th 2007 9:15PM]

Awesome. I was waiting for something like this to happen, was too cheap to pay $140 to fix mine. I'd still rather have an xbox 360 that might break over a PS3

[TK @ Jul 5th 2007 9:38PM]

Seems like everyone forgot about the PS2 and their laser problems. Took them about three tries to get that right.

[enjoy_polo @ Jul 5th 2007 9:53PM]

I hate Microsoft because it just sucks so bad (hArdware). I live in Japan, I've bought an Xbox 360 recently which I have bought from a friend. Well, that console just "RODed" for the first time like 2 month ago. So I call Microsoft as usual to say that my console is broken but I'm okay cause I have the 2 years warranty right ? Well not here ... Because the girl on the phone told me it was actualy impossible to repair for free my freakin' console because I passed the 1 year warranty ... SO I was literally shocked because I know that every other country has a 2 Yr warranty ! So they want me to spend about $115 (Shipment fees + 1 year extension) But come'on dude ... this isn't fair at all ... I'm not payin that much for that console right now, i'll see with the upcomin' Halo 3 but damn ...

[primetime4 @ Jul 5th 2007 10:00PM]

The Xbox 360 is the Hyundai of consoles.

[James @ Jul 5th 2007 10:08PM]

Prediction: the Internet asplodes.

I suspect this thread will easily break 200 comments, maybe 300. Heh, amazing.

[titus pullo @ Jul 5th 2007 10:08PM]

@ enjoy_polo

so now you can get it fixed for free so why are you crying about it?

[ogvor @ Jul 5th 2007 11:23PM]

While I agree with many saying this is just sort of addmitting the Xbox 360 failure rate is very high, It's not like microsoft was gonna replace EVERYONES 360 with new, higher quality one. I imagine soon that, coupled with the 65 nm chip, that a new less failure prone 360 will be released. Still, microsoft needs to completley come clean with a defect in 360s causing them to fail so much.

But coming from the perspective of a 360 owner, this is made me much less nervous since I knew my warranty would end this fall.

[SMBogan @ Jul 5th 2007 11:43PM]

Good for Microsoft. Now, try to get Apple to admit that their iPod nano has problems, after six months they make you pay rediculous shipping and processing on a device that barely weighs a pound.

And as for this:
"I including many, laughed the first time we saw the PS3 because of it gigantic size. Now Sony are the ones laughing since they didn't compromise with the PS3 cooling at all. The PS3 has the biggest heat sink I have ever seen. It is almost as large as the PS-One." -Homeboy
Do you think that Sony is laughing about their poor sales of the PS3 also? The only people laughing are Microsoft and Nintendo.

"Extending your warranty from 90 days to 3 years .. means you have ZERO confidence in your product. What other consumer electronic device has a 3 year warranty?" -zargon
No...that would be the exact opposite. A company that stands behind its product, and is not worried about failure, would have a longer warranty, because they don't expect it to cost them that much more money.

[tiuk @ Jul 6th 2007 12:04AM]

I got my first 360 in November of 2006. Had some problems with crashing (no RLOD, mind you), returned it to the store, and the new unit has been good. The occasional freeze up, but they're few and far between. The fact that MS has extended the warranty to three years is a big comfort to me.

[JBDragon @ Jul 6th 2007 12:13AM]

Yes, Extending your Warranty from 90 days to the current 3 years is Standing behind your Product. I think this was a great move for MS. Now the need to Advertise this fact for those that were worried about problems before and have been holding off. 3 Years for a CONSOLE is a long time. SONY would have NEVER done this. Many people got screwed with the PS2, in fact there was a Class Action Lawsuit on the PS2 because Sony wouldn't Admit to the problems and made people PAY to get their console fixed. Of course Sony LOST. See Sony is FORCED to fix peoples console, and MS on the other hand does it on their own. Ummmmm, I like MS way much better and keeps the Lawyers claws out of the Money which they usually get the Majority of.

THANK YOU MICROSOFT!!! YOU STAND BEHIND YOUR PRODUCTS!!! My 360 has been problem free since day one, and have had it since Dec 26th 2005.

[Petarrgh @ Jul 6th 2007 12:21AM]

Thats great news, just rang Microsoft and they confirmed that its 3 years from date of purchase.

thats awesome coz mine just came up with 3 red lights 2 months out of the 12month warranty.

i feel like i have been raped, but then compensated with a kraft dinner.

[LT73 @ Jul 6th 2007 12:28AM]

Is there any more ammunition we need as a society to keep the internet free??

My box went red ring of death last week.

Glad I said no to the ridiculous charge!

[LT73 @ Jul 6th 2007 12:29AM]

Thank you Microsoft for doing the right thing.

Part of me would like to think it was Integrity that ultimately made you make the move, but realistically, I know it was just the bad publicity.

Where is Integrity in today's Corporations anyway?

[Andy @ Jul 6th 2007 1:56AM]

This is good news for me. I just recently bought one, and was worried about the heat problems. Now I can play my games without worrying about burning my console :-)

[sr @ Jul 6th 2007 2:47AM]

Wow. I think I'm going to get one.

[Theedo @ Jul 6th 2007 6:02AM]

I think it's amazing... 3 years huh? $1 Billion doesn't hit Microsoft too too hard, and for anybody who must hate on Microsoft, they do a lot of nice things for their investors and generally their customers too. It's hard to be so big and keep your company as one of the most desired jobs in the world. Besides, I suppose it must've been pretty difficult to predict just how much the heat from their processor and other internals would damage the system. I mean, Microsoft wouldn't release the product knowing the problem was there, so the big problem must've originated from outsourcing production of some of the internals or something...

[boden @ Jul 6th 2007 6:44AM]

Will this cover UK 360s too? Mine bit the dust after about 16 months so I bought a new one... I wouldn't mind getting it repaired now for nothing so I can sell it on or keep it for a rainy day.

Also what for those of us that paid out for the extended warranty?

[Stuart M @ Jul 6th 2007 8:01AM]

This new warranty extension is good for all the people who get the three flashing red lights. My console started to wrong last week for the first time since I got it, a month afer release, the console works for about a minute and then the screen freezes with a kind of checkered pattern. I have no three flasing red lights and will not be intitled to a free repair.

[Woody56292 @ Jul 6th 2007 3:11PM]

This is great. I have a launch console, and although it is still working fine, I have been paranoid about having the console break during MLG tour/Halo 3/Summer etc. Glad to see I don't have to worry anymore.

[bxstrmn @ Jul 6th 2007 5:18PM]

I am in the same boat as many other people with this. My xbox is just a box and I was really considering just buying another system than to spend the 140 on top of the 400 I had already spent, just on the fact that I don't want to send it out and get some other refurbished system. This puts a little faith back in microsoft for me though, I think that move just saved me as a customer. At least for gaming systems, OS, sorry i'll have to go with a mac

[Jay Lee @ Jul 6th 2007 6:27PM]

nice move

[Vlad The Impaler @ Jul 6th 2007 6:36PM]

When is that 65nm coming out...they keep delaying...
I'm not in the XBOX market yet, but will definitely get into it either with the elite, or hopefully the 65nm if it doesn't take forever...
3 years warranty just tipped the balance in XBOX's favor over PS3 imho

[deathknight989 @ Jul 6th 2007 11:42PM]

What the hell are u talking about i own both xbox360 and the ps3 and the ps3 has so many bugs its so stupid the controllers barely work the systems are all fucked and my 360 is perfect nothing wrong with it at all.

[tadtidlo @ Jul 6th 2007 11:58PM]

Naysayers and Sony fanboys, you're all (conveniently) forgetting the class-action lawsuit against Sony over the PS2 failing just out of warranty. Everyone I know with a PS2 had it replaced or repaired at least once. Yes, that's CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT. Microsoft is no better and no worse than any other electronics company. Sony's customer service was (and is) no better. None of these companies are in this to do anything but make money. The PS3 will have it's teething problems as well. The original Xbox had several design and motherboard (and heatsink/fan) revisions, as well as DVD drive manufacturer changes. Sony cares as little about you as any of them, and if you think otherwise, you're a fool. Same goes for Microsoft. Get a clue!

[SimbaDogg @ Jul 7th 2007 2:28AM]

@deadknight
well, you're part of the super super minority. myself, along w/ every single person that i know w/ a ps3 has theres working tip top. and for the 8 months that i worked w/ best buy since the launch of the PS3, i've probably seen a total of 3-5 consoles myself (and thats pretty accurate, i used to be there waaaaay to much)
@tadtiddy
you say that PS3 will have its teething problems as well. I'm sorry, but i really have to disagree with you. The only thing that some people will complain about, is the loudness of the cooling fan. Which other than an inconvenience is definitely not a bad thing. I can say again from experience, when i was @ best buy when the 360 launched...there were people that had defective consoles within a week...and from that point on, there was no turning back. Probably the best quote that i've seen in a while was this

“We had 35 Xbox 360s at launch I know more than half of them broke within the first six months (red lights or making circles under the game discs). Two of them were dead on arrival.” - said former EB Games employee Matthieu G."
http://www.ripten.com/2007/07/03/failure-rate-xbox-360-high-as-33-sony-ps3-less-than-1/
another from msn.com front page
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19640784/

[John @ Jul 7th 2007 4:15AM]

damn, its about time!!!!! now i just need some warranty stickers.....

[Karl Torvmark @ Jul 7th 2007 6:17AM]

I just got hit by a RRoD, but fortunately being in Europe, my system will be repaired even though I bought it on launch day. However, the replacement process takes ages; it was two weeks before the UPS guy showed up. BTW, he told me that he didn't do much else than pick up and ship Xboxes these days...

Microsoft doesn't seem too experienced with cooling and power supplies. If a Japanese designer had designed the ultra-brick power supply, I'm pretty sure he would have gotten a katana given to him with directions what to do with it...

[Sean @ Sep 25th 2007 4:37PM]

Hey i live in ireland and i jus wana know if that warranty thing extends to here as well because my 360 got the three green lights recently :(....
and even though i have to xbox 360s( seperated by over 30 miles) i want to get my xbox at home working ...please and thancs for information

[Sean @ Sep 25th 2007 4:42PM]

Hey i live in ireland and i jus wana know if that warranty thing extends to here as well because my 360 got the three red lights recently :(....
and even though i have two xbox 360s(seperated by over 30 miles) i want to get my xbox at home working ...please and thanks for information

yeah i'm not great at typing